Stabilizing device



March 23 1926. I 1,577,821

. w. P. CAMPBELL STABILIZING DEVICE Filed Jan. 29 1923 INVENTOR. flv Z08Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES "1,577,321 PATENT or FICAE.

WILLIAM r. CAMPBELL, ,OFKANSAS CITY, mssounr, assrenon or FORTY-NINE01mmmnnnn'rns TO HARRY w. TULLY AND JOHN 1:. LANE, AND or FIFTY-ONE ONE-mmmmn'rns 'ro JOHN H. LKNE, ALL or names CITY, 'mrssoum.

s'ranrLrzme DEVICE.

Application filed January 29, 1923. seria'rm. 615,594.

son and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Stabilizing Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relatesto improvements in stablizing devices for automobilesteering mechanisms.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device which willyieldingly hold the spindle arms of an automobile from wobbling orshimmying, and which will also prevent rattling between the steeringconnecting rod and the spindle arm. 7 Still another object of myinvention is to provide a device of the kind described, which is simple,cheap 1 to make, durable, not liable to getout of order, which willexert a substantially uniform resistance to the movement of the steeringarms in either direction and hold them in the positions in which theyare placed, and which will not -prevent the easy steerin of the machine.

Still'another object ofimy invention is to provide a device of the kinddescribed which can be readily applied to its operative position, andwhich will be readily held in such position without any securing devicesotherthan its own form and resilien- The novel features of my inventionare hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates the invention,

F ig.-1 is a top view, partly broken away,

showing the preferred embodiment of my invention in which the spring hasa bearing against the axle, the steering rod and the steering'arm. Fig.2 is a sectional view, enlarged, on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spring shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thespring being shown enlarged.

i .Fig. 4 is an'enlarged perspective View of a modified form of thespring.

Fig. 5 is aview, similar to Fig. 2, showing the spring shown in Fig. 4applied to :13 steering connecting rod and the front a. a v

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in'thedifferentviews. Y

. 1 designatesthe front axle'of the double channel or I beam t e, suchas is commonly employed in certain machines which are on-the market, andto which are pivoted in the usual manner the spindles 2 having each asteering arm3, the latter having pivoted to it the forked adjacent endof the usual steering connecting rod 4.

In both forms. of my invention illustrated in, the drawing, a springislocated betwem the arms of the forked end of the adjacent end of therod 4 and in the channel in the adjacent side of the axle -1 andembraces the upper and lower sides of the rod 4:, the spring in bothforms having a sliding bearmg on the axle, and in the form shown inFigs. 1 and 2 having a bearing against the connecting rod 4: and againstthe arm 3. In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the spring bears on theaxle and against the connecting rod.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the spring shown comprises a spring wiredoubled onitself and' designated by '5, the U-shaped middle portionofthe wire being disposed between the arms of the adjacent forkcd end ofthe connecting rod 4 and bearing against the adjacent end of thesteering arm 3 and exerting a constant pressure against the outer end ofthe connecting rod 4, the end portions of the wire 5 having a slidingfrictional contact with and bear mg against the adjacent side of theaxle 1 and being hcld in place by the flanges of the channel on thatside of the axle. The wire 5 has formed in it two coils 6 whichrespectively embrace the upper and lower sides of the rod 4, thussecurely fixing the spring against displacement. By means of thisconstruction, the spring forms means for affording a substantiallyuniform resistance against movement of the-connecting rod 4 and spindlearms 3 in either direction. It also affords means for preventingrattling between the connecting rod and the adjacent spindle arm. Byhaving a sliding bearing. against the axle, and time exerting a uniformresistance to the movement of -the steering rod and spindle arms ineither direction, the spring does not interfere with the easy steeringof themachine, hutprevents the shimmying or wobbling of the frontwheels. As is well known, such lateral vibration makes steeringdifficult and is a cause of discomfort and annoyance to the operator ofthe machine.

As is shown in Fig. 1, two springs 5 may be employed in connectionrespectively with the two steering arms 3 and the opposite ends of theconnecting rod 4.

In the form of my invention, shown in Figs. 4: and 5, the springcomprises a wire 7 doubled on itself, similarly to the wire 5, the endsof the wire 7 being extended between the arms of the adjacent forked endof the rod 4, and being disposed laterally across said armsrespectively, as shown in Fig. 5.

The middle bent U shaped portion of the wire 7 rests in the channel ofthe adjacent side of the axle 1. The wire 7 is provided with two coils8, similar to the coils 6, which respectively embrace theupper and lowersides of the rod 4.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the spring 7 doesnot serve as an anti-rattler, but it provides a uniform resistance tothe lateral movement in either direction of the steering rod 4, and,consequently, prevents shimmying or wobbling of the steering arms 3.

In applying the device, the spring is slipped between the arms of theforked end of the connecting rod 4, and is then. sprunginto the adjacentchannel of the axle, the

coils 6 and 8 being made to embrace the rod 4-. The tension of thespring will cause it to stay in operative position. As the spindles areswung to and fro in steering, the spring, in sliding on the axle, willnot interfere with the easy steering of the machine, and will hold thespindle arms from wobbling due to the traveling of the front wheelsalong uneven ground.

I do not limit my invention to the structures shown and described, asmodifications,

within the scope of the appended claims, may be made, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a device of the kind described, the combinationwith the front axle, the spindle pivoted thereto and having a steeringarm, and steering connecting rod havinga forked end pivoted to thesteering arm, of a spring between the arms of said forked end bearingagainst the rear end of the steering arm and against the front side ofthe steering rod and having a sliding bearing against the axle.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with the frontaxle, the spindle pivoted thereto having a steering arm, and steeringconnecting rod pivoted to said steering arm, of a spring having portionsdisposed respectively above and below the connecting rod and having abearing against said spindle arm and having a sliding bearing againstsaid axle by which the spindle arm is opposed by a substantially uniformpressure against movement in either direction.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination with the frontaxle, the spindle pivoted thereto having a steering arm, and thesteering connecting rod having a forked end pivoted to said arm, of aspring having portions disposed respectively above and below thesteering rod, and located between the arms of the forked end of thesteering rod and bearing against the steering rod and the steering armand having a sliding bearing against the axle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

IVILLIAM P. CAMPBELL.

